Pelosi: Pay cut undermines ‘dignity’ of congressional employment

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Friday that she opposes federal pay cuts for a very specific reason: They would undermine the “dignity” of employment with the federal government.

The Hill reports on the California Democrat’s comments, which were made within the context of across-the-board cuts that would take place with sequestration: “I don’t think we should do it; I think we should respect the work we do,” Ms. Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol. “I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded.”

Ms. Pelosi then added: “It’s a hard question to ask me because most of my colleagues are the breadwinners in their families,” she said. “A pay cut to me doesn’t mean as much.”